Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF)

CUF is defined as the ratio between the gross energy generation of a power plant and the
maximum gross energy generation possible in the period under operation i.e. period under
which it is in running condition (eg. 330 days). The same can be represented as:-

Where C is the installed capacity of the unit and HOP is the total operating hours (i.e. not
including outages) in the period

Calculation of CUF (Example):

Assumptions:

 Rated capacity : 2.1 MW or 2100 kW

 Assumed annual generated energy : 48,00, 000 kWh
 Actual number of WTG operating days : 330 days
 Actual number of operating hours : 330 × 24 = 7920 hours

Substitute the values in the above formula

CUF (%) = [48,00,000 / (2.1 X 1000 X 7920)] X 100 = 28.86%

Plant Load Factor (PLF)

According to the Central Electricity Authority in India, PLF is defined as the ratio between the
gross energy generation of a power plant and the maximum gross energy generation possible in
the total monitoring period under consideration (in our case, a year).The same can be
represented as:-

Where C is the installed capacity of the unit and H total is the total hours (i.e. not including
outages) in the monitoring period under consideration (in our case, a year).
Calculation of PLF (Example):

Assumptions:

 Rated capacity : 2.1 MW or 2100 kW

 Assumed annual generated energy : 48,00, 000 kWh
 Annual monitoring period : 365 days (Here we take the total number
of days in a year; it could be 366 also)
 Annual number of operating hours : 365 × 24 = 8760 hours

Substitute the values in the above formula

PLF (%) = [48,00,000 / (2.1 X 1000 X 8760)] X 100 = 26.09%

Compiled and collated by Nitin Raikar (rnitin@suzlon.com)